The partial federal government shutdown is threatening to delay NASA's next mission to Mars, MAVEN, by two years if it misses the November launch window.

Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN, which is about as Colorado-centric as a mission can get, had entered the final phases of launch processing in Florida in August.

But all the spacecraft work was halted Tuesday when 97 percent of NASA's workers were furloughed and the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, which manages the program, and the Kennedy Space Center, where the spacecraft is prepared for launch, were closed.

"MAVEN isn't unique — there are other missions impacted — but we are just very time-critical compared to other projects," said Bruce Jakosky, the principal investigator from the University of Colorado at Boulder and brainchild behind the mission's science.

The $485 million project has a 20-day launch window to get off the ground, starting Nov. 18. The next window, determined by planetary alignment, won't open again until early 2016.

"It is not time to panic yet," Jakosky said. "I would start to panic if we are shut down for a week or more."

There are an additional one to two weeks after the window when MAVEN could still potentially launch, but it would be in less than ideal conditions. If the project is forced to wait 26 months, the science could suffer.

"Right now is a great time to get observations, right after solar maximum, for peak observation," Jakosky said. "If you wait 26 months, it's at the solar minimum, and it is a much less interesting time to make observations."

Advertisement

Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Jefferson County built the spacecraft and is responsible for mission operations. When NASA essentially shut down this week, Lockheed was told to stow it away in a safe state and leave the facility.

While the government is shut down, Lockheed is still on contract and operating. But the team at Waterton Canyon is forced to monitor MAVEN remotely via video and other instruments, according to Lockheed.

That doesn't get the spacecraft to orbit. Once it was shipped from Colorado to Florida, the clock started ticking, with some margin days built in for technical and weather problems. The team is now down to seven margin days.

"Every day is precious to us, and we don't want to lose them for any reason," Jakosky said.

Centennial-based United Launch Alliance is providing the rocket system for launch and is continuing its launch processing.

The orbiter is the first mission devoted to understanding the Martian upper atmosphere.

Missy Franklin, Jenny Simpson, Adeline Gray and three other Colorado women could be big players at the 2016 Rio OlympicsWhen people ask Missy Franklin for her thoughts about the Summer Olympics that will begin a year from Wednesday in Rio de Janeiro, she hangs a warning label on her answer.